Bovespa Hits Record Close

Updated Dec. 30, 1999 3:13 pm ET

SAO PAULO -- Stocks ended the year Thursday with fireworks, both literally and figuratively, as the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange Bovespa Index hit yet another record, piercing 17000 for the first time ever.

At its early midday closing, the Bovespa was up 1.9% at 17091 points, with 607.5 million reals in stocks traded.